The historical roots of governance in Nigeria are deeply intertwined with colonial legacies and post-colonial struggles, leading to contemporary challenges such as corruption, weak institutions, and socio-economic disparities. A mixed-methods study combining in-depth interviews with government officials and civil society leaders (n=30) and a stratified random sample survey among the general public (n=1500), supplemented by archival research and secondary data analysis. The qualitative interviews revealed persistent corruption networks across various sectors, while quantitative surveys indicated widespread perceptions of governance failure. Archival evidence supported these findings. Historical governance practices have entrenched corrupt institutions, with public trust in government at an all-time low (30% positive vs. 70% negative). Strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms and promote transparency to rebuild public trust and address structural issues. Nigerian governance, corruption, historical legacies, mixed-methods study